Victor stepped in the doorway of his study and his cold eyes locked onto Emilia as if he would bury her with the glare.
"What are you doing here?" He asked sharply and Emilia almost flinched at his tone.
She trembled, the phone in her hand shaking slightly.
"I... I was bringing you your second phone." She firstly stammered then paused to steady her voice so he wouldn't know she was scared.
"It was ringing, and I thought it might be urgent. I didn't want you to miss it." She added firmly.
"Is that so?" Victor asked, his eyes narrowed as he studied her.
"Yes, Honey." Emilia replied quickly, lowering her gaze to avoid his piercing stare.
Victor stepped closer, his presence looming over her.
"So, did you hear anything?" He inquired.
"No! I just got here. I was about to knock when you opened the door." She blurted out, shaking her head firmly.
"You are sure about that?" Victor asked, leaning in, his face merely inches from hers. Emilia wanted to step back but she knew that would raise suspicion.
"Absolutely, Honey." Emilia lied and Victor looked at her skeptically.
The phone in her hand buzzed again, breaking the tension. Victor snatched it from her grip, his eyes never leaving her face.
"Get out of my sight. I don't want to see you or anyone else near this door again. Do you understand?" He snapped at her.
"Yes, of course." Emilia replied hurriedly, taking a step back.
"Go." Victor growled, and Emilia didn't need to be told twice. She turned and scurried down the hallway, her breaths coming out in short, shaky gasps.
Victor watched her retreating figure before stepping back into his study and closing the door firmly.
~~~~~~~~
Inside, he quickly answered the call.
"Yes." Victor said curtly, pacing the room.
The voice on the other end spoke rapidly, and Victor's expression darkened.
"A businessman must know how to handle situations like this. Don't worry. I will make it work. Everything will be taken care of." He said, his voice calm but cold.
The conversation continued briefly before Victor ended the call.
~~~~~~~~~
The following morning, Emilia stood in the kitchen, while her hands were busy chopping vegetables, her mind was totally elsewhere.
She couldn't shake the memory of Victor's words.
"Get rid of the evidence and body...?"
Her hands trembled slightly, and she set the knife down, gripping the counter to steady herself.
"Victor is involved in something dangerous. What if he finds out I heard him? What would he do to me?" She thought, her stomach churning.
At that moment, the kitchen creak open and Emilia jumped in fright.
Victor stepped inside, his eyes immediately narrowing when he saw her startled reaction.
"Why do you look like you have just seen a ghost?" He asked skeptically.
"Wait, what is he doing in the kitchen? I thought I was able to convince him yesterday that I heard nothing... Could it be that my actions have given me away?" Emilia thought to herself, widening her eyes.
"I just asked you a question, woman!" Victor's sharp voice brought her out of her thoughts and she trembled slightly.
"I... I didn't hear you come in." Emilia stammered, trying to compose herself.
Victor didn't respond immediately. He walked closer, his gaze scrutinizing her every move.
"Go and get ready." He said finally.
"Ready? For what?" Emilia asked, her voice hesitant.
"You are coming with me. Your outfit is already waiting for you in your room." Victor replied simply.
Emilia's throat went dry.
"Where are we going?" She blurted out and Victor looked at her like she had grown two heads.
"Since when did you start questioning me?" He demanded angrily and she swallowed hard.
"I am sorry, Honey. I just felt like I would be able to prepare myself mentally if I knew where we are going." She managed to say in a steady voice.
Victor scoffed.
"Well, you know there is never a need for that. You only need to appear beside me as the most happy, beautiful young wife who is always smiling." He told her sharply and Emilia swallowed hard again.
"And let me warn you, what happened at the last event shouldn't repeat itself. You are a happy wife who should be smiling always and always by my side, understood?" He demanded and Emilia nodded in understanding.
"Good!" He stated then walked out of the kitchen.
~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, in Adrian's room upstairs:
He sat on the edge of his bed, a photo album open in his lap. He stared at a picture of his mother, Elena, her warm smile frozen in time.
"I miss you so much, Mom." He whispered, his voice so solemn.
Staring at the photo, his mind drifted to a memory—a day when he was ten years old when Elena had taken him to the park.
*FLASHBACK*
"Hold on tight!" She had said, laughing as she got ready to push him on the swing.
"But Mom, can you really push me? I mean, I am no longer the little boy you used to carry around anymore..." Adrian had said, smiling happily.
"You are going to be my little boy forever, no matter how tall you have grown!" Elena replied and laughed.
Adrian had laughed too, his heart filled with joy. She had always been there for him, her love unwavering.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
The memory faded, and Adrian blinked back tears.
He closed the album, but as he did, something caught his eye—a small opening at the back of the album.
"What Is this?" He muttered curiously.
He carefully reached into the opening and pulled out a folded piece of paper. His breath hitched when he saw the familiar handwriting.
"It's Mom's handwriting." He whispered, in surprise as he unfolded the note.
His eyes scanned the words, and with each line, his expression shifted from confusion to shock.
By the time he finished reading, his mouth was slightly open.
"What...?" He whispered in disbelief.